The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which proposed a new incentive scheme to facilitate moves which would enhance the use of council stock and deliver improved outcomes for customers.
Members discussed the levels of demand for certain types of properties, and responding to an enquiry, the Board noted the flexible approach taken in certain circumstances with regard to under occupancy, where affordability of a larger property was not an issue for the customer and such an approach would increase both customer choice and also tenancy sustainability.
The Board considered the benefits of a mutual exchange incentive scheme and noted the more proactive and flexible approach to be taken by housing managers in future.
RESOLVED -
(a) That the successes of the Council’s under occupation scheme and the mutual exchange incentive scheme be noted.
(b) That the formal closure of the Council’s previous under-occupation incentive scheme be approved.
(c) That £200,000 from the Housing Revenue Account for 2014/2015 be earmarked to fund a new incentive scheme to operate from April 2014 – March 2015, based upon the principles outlined within sections 4.16 – 4.37 of the submitted report.
(d) That approval be given to a new scheme being developed by the Chief Officer Statutory Housing, in conjunction with officers from Housing Leeds Housing Management, to be launched from 1st April 2014.